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Fox makes it a clean sweep with 'Idol'

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NEW YORK -- Fox won last week's primetime in viewership and the adults 18-49 demographic on the strength of three hours of "American Idol," according to Nielsen Media Research ratings data for the week ending Sunday.

Meanwhile, NBC headed into the upfront season with not a lot of momentum, tying its previous lows in adults 18-49 since People Meters as well as failing to crack the 10 million viewer mark for any night last week.

NBC laid low in the beginning of the week with the low-rated return of "Heroes" (12 million viewers, 5.3 rating/13 share in adults 18-49), far below its heights when it left earlier this year. It was still, just barely, the night's top show in adults 18-49, ahead of "CSI: Miami" (17 million, 5.2/14). ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (18.9 million, 4.9/14) was the night's winner in viewership.

Fox took Tuesday with "Idol" (26.5 million, 10/28) and "House" (20.8 million, 8.4/21), which overshadowed the results show for "Dancing" (16.6 million, 4.2/11). It was much the same story Wednesday with a special two-hour "Idol" (26.9 million, 10.2/27) and nothing else able to compete during those time periods. "Lost" (11.9 million, 5.0/13) finished ahead of "CSI: NY" (11.4 million, 3.3/9).

CBS took Thursday in viewership but fell to ABC in adults 18-49 as "Grey's Anatomy" (20 million, 8.4/21) was virtually even with "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (20.2 million, 5.9/15) in viewership, but "Grey's" was far ahead in the demo. CBS prevailed at 8 p.m. with "Survivor: Fiji" (13.8 million, 4.6/14), ahead of "Ugly Betty" (9.6 million, 3.1/9). It still was a low Thursday for many shows, with "ER" (9.5 million, 3.7/10) tying its all-time low for an original episode, and "Shark" (14.1 million, 3.8/11) beating it in both measures at 10 p.m. The finale of "October Road" (9 million, 4.1/12) was the winner in the hour in adults 18-49.

ABC won Sunday with "Desperate Housewives" (17.2 million, 6.8/17), winning its hour in the demo and viewership, while "Brothers & Sisters" (11.1 million 4.3/12) won in the demo against CBS' "Without a Trace" (13.7 million, 3.2/9) at 10 p.m. as well as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (10.7 million, 4.0/12) beating "The Amazing Race" (9.4 million, 3.1/9). Fox's "Family Guy" (8.1 million, 4.1/11) did well in the demo in a tough time period.